A management accounting qualification from Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) will provide you with a great understanding of business and finance. It will also provide you with a large array of employment opportunities around the world.

The CIMA qualification is available to anyone who has the desire to succeed in business and take their career to the top. To complete qualification you will need to accumulate a minimum of three years relevant experience. Prior experience may be used to satisfy this requirement.

Aside from practical experience, the first step to getting started with your qualification is to complete the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting. This is the entry qualification and will introduce you to the world of finance. You may be exempt from taking the CIMA entry qualification if you have successfully completed the AAT Accounting Qualification or the Open University Certificate in Accounting.

The second step in the process of obtaining the CIMA qualification is to complete the Managerial level. This level consists of six exams covering the following topics: Performance Evaluation, Decision Management, Organisational Management and Information Systems, Integrated Management, Financial Accounting ans Tax Principles and Financial Analysis. Upon Completion of Managerial Level you will be awarded with the CIMA Advanced diploma in Management Accounting.

The third step in the CIMA qualification is to complete the Strategic level which consists of three exams. The exams cover Business Strategy, Financial Strategy and Risk Control and Strategy. Upon completion of the Strategic level, you may then go on to complete the final step in the CIMA qualification process; The Test of Professional Competence in Management Accounting (TOPCIMA). This exam is based on a case study. All exams throughout the qualification process are three hours long and have a pass mark of 50%. Upon completion of this final step, you will be named a Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

The amount of time required to compete the CIMA qualification may vary to an extent depending on your time commitments and prior experience. In general it should take at least three years to earn the qualification.

The offical web site CIMAGlobal will provide you with the latest news from their association.

Successful completion of the CIMA qualification opens up many career opportunities which would otherwise be unavailable to you. Some of these careers may be in banking, defence and military, education and training, financial services, health care, insurance, law and accountancy practice.